The British Ministry of Defense has ordered six additional Airbus H145 helicopters from Airbus Helicopters with Airbus Helicopters. The Ministry of Defense is thus taking the next step in the renewal of the British helicopter fleet.
Another aim is to reduce the number of different types in service. The new aircraft will primarily be used for emergency missions in Cyprus and to support British military training in the jungle war in Brunei, replacing the Airbus Pumas currently performing these tasks. Only recently Honduras also ordered two more H145. Lenny Brown, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in the UK, said: “The H145 Jupiter and H135 Juno have continued to prove exceptionally reliable and versatile in Military Flying Training System (MFTS) training and will bring these key attributes to their new roles.” https://militaeraktuell.at/neue-schneemobile-fuer-die-royal-marines/ The new helicopters will be delivered next year and will join 29 H135s and seven existing H145s at the Defense Helicopter Flying School, which trains all UK military pilots under the MFTS at RAF Shawbury. The increased H145 fleet is expected to bring savings in maintenance costs and reduce the time taken to retrain pilots. The new five-bladed version of the H145 offers an additional payload of 150 kilograms. The version also offers improved comfort for passengers and crews.
The H145 is powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines and is equipped with a digital engine control system (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics system. The model also has a powerful 4-axis autopilot, which increases safety and reduces the pilot’s workload. Thanks to its particularly low noise level, the H145 is the quietest helicopter in its class. The installed Helionix avionics lead to considerable savings in pilot training, as the various Airbus types, including the H135 and the H175M, are identical.
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